"Glee" creator regrets his Kings of Leon outburst

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Ryan Murphy’s feud with Kings of Leon has taken on a life of its own since the “Glee” creator labeled the band “self-centered a—holes” and said “F—- you” for refusing to license their music to his TV show.

Ryan Murphy poses with his award for outstanding writing for a comedy series for "Glee" at the 62nd annual Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California August 29, 2010. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok

“I didn’t speak with as much clarity as I would have liked,” Murphy said on the set of “Glee” Friday, referring to his initial comments in January.

“Who am I to say ‘F—- you?’ That’s not what I meant. I completely understand when artists don’t want a show or another artist to interpret their songs. In fact, I respect it. It’s their personal work and I’d feel the same way. We get turned down all the time and I’ve don’t fight it or even go back after a rejection.”

Murphy noted that he was recently turned down by Icelandic singer Bjork. “She read the scene and didn’t think it was the right fit for her song,” he said. “I told her, ‘That’s completely cool,’ and she said to come back to her down the road. We deal with that every day.”

Last month, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl sided with Kings of Leon, whom Murphy had chided for “missing the big picture: that a 7-year-old kid can see someone close to their age singing a Kings of Leon song, which will maybe make them want to join a glee club or pick up a musical instrument.”

Said Grohl: “It’s every band’s right... F—- that guy for thinking anybody and everybody should want to do Glee.”

Grohl’s words evidently stung Murphy, a Foo Fighters fan.

“I’ve never felt that if you don’t give Glee your music, there’s something diabolical about you,” said Murphy. “To the contrary: I support artists and what they choose to do... I think Kings of Leon are cool as s—-. The Foo Fighters are brilliant. We’d love to do one if their songs, if they were ever interested. But if it’s not their thing, then OK.”

Lesson learned? “Don’t say f—- you to someone in the press,” Murphy cracked.

But on a more serious note, he added: “I’m really proud of the fact that we can introduce songs to younger kids or their parents because I’m the biggest music fan. The show is about the love of performing and arts education — things I think are very special.”